Conveyor mechanism for mining apparatus



March 6, 1956 J. F. JOY

CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

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Jasepk @Joy March 6, 1956 J, F, Joy 2,737,287

coNvEYoR MECHANISM FOR MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 6 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eig. fd.

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March 6, 1956 J. F. JOY 2,737,287

CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Shea#l 3 fd l ZZoweg.

United States CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR MINING APPARATUS Original appiication November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,259. Divided and this application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,651

4 Claims. (Cl. ISS-409) This invention relates to a conveyor mechanism and more particularly to a conveyor mechanism especially, but not exclusively, designed for use with a mining apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved conveyor mechanism. Another object is to provide an improved swinging mechanism for a conveyor mechanism. A further object is to provide an improved conveyor mechanism having improved llexible side retaining wall means arranged at the swivel of the swingable rear end portion of the conveyor for retaining the material being conveyed on the conveyor as it is moved past the swivel irrespective of the swivelled position of the rear end portion. Still another object is to provide an improved swinging means associated with the ilexible side retaining elements of the conveyor. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinatter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 194,259, tiled November 6, 1950.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form and a modification which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Figs. l and la, taken together, constitute a plan View of a mining apparatus in which an illustrative form of the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section through the conveyor, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the horizontally swingable rear portion of the conveyor shown in Fig. 1a.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central longitudinal vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the conveyor drive.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken through the swingable rear portion, and its swivel, of the conveyor.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified construction.

The mining apparatus with which the present invention is associated is of the so-called square face type and generally comprises a portable base structure generally designated 3l which may assume various known forms but which herein, for illustrative purposes, may be of the walking or creeper type which may in certain respects be similar to that described in my copending application, Serial No. 725,950, tiled February l, 1947. This creeper base includes a bottom skid or pan 2 having a smooth bottom surface adapted to rest upon and move over the floor of a mine and this bottom skid provides parallel longitudinal guideways 3 for slidingly receiving longitudinal guides 4 provided by a bottom plate 5 of a main frame 6 of the apparatus. The bottom skid has lateral plate portions 'l' which carry upright extensible power jacks 8 having extensible elements engageable with the iloor and roof of the mine lirrnly to hold the bottom skid against movement, while mounted at the sides of the main frame atent C) ICC 6 are upright extensible power jacks 9 engageable with the mine floor for tilting the main frame and bottom skid upwardly in vertical planes lengthwise of the apparatus while the rearward portion of the skid remains in supported contact with the mine floorthereby to remove a major portion of the weight of the apparatus from the bottom skid. Carried by the main frame 6 are parallel longitudinally extending feeding, repositioning and retracting extensible power jacks 10 for moving the main frame back and forth along its guideways relative to the bottom skid while the latter is resting upon the mine floor or for moving the bottom skid longitudinally along the guideways relative to the main frame when the latter is in the main supported by the power jacks 9, all in the manner fully disclosed in the copending application, Serial No. 194,259 above referredto. Thus, the mining apparatus may be walked .in a step-by-step fashion either forwardly or rearwardly over the mine floor. If desired, a walking or creeper base structure similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 146,885, led February 2S, 1950, may be employed to advance, steer, and retract the apparatus, instead of that described above. Evidently, under certain conditions in lieu of a base of the creeper type, a base of the wheel mounted or the crawler type may be employed.

The main frame 6 of the mining apparatus carries a conventional motor l2 (Figs. l and 4), arranged horizontally and longitudinally of the main frame intermediate the door jacks 9, and mounted on the forward portion of the main frame in a transverse upright position across the front of the apparatus is a rectangular, open-centered guide or cutter frame i3 providing a guideway in which an endless loop cutter 14 is guided for circulation in an orbital path. Also arranged on the main frame in advance of the motor is a gear housing 15 and extending between the top of the guide frame 13 centrally between the sides of the latter and the top of the gear housing is a brace arm or strut 16. The endless loop cutter 14 which travels in a rectangular orbital path about the guide frame, is in the form of a pivoted link cutter chain cornprising a series of chain blocks 17 which carry conventional cutter bits 18. As the machine is advanced by the creeper base during the mining operation the endless loop cutter chain 14 cuts out a rectangular shaped core of coal and as cutting progresses the core of coal is broken down or dislodged by a pair of wedge type breaker devices or coal bursters 19 and associated drills 20. These breaker wedge devices and drills may be generally like those disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 725,950 mentioned above. The dislodged or broken down coal falls onto a horizontal receiving plate 21 which tlares out laterally at its forward portion to substantially the full width ofthe cutter frame 13 and has upright side retaining walls 22 whereby the dislodged coal as it falls through the open center of the cutter frame onto the horizontal plate 21 is substantially prevented against lateral displacement beyond the sides of the horizontal plate.

As shown in Fig. l, extending along the sides of the forward portion of the main frame 6 of the apparatus and partially across the horizontal receiving plate 21 are guidway providing elements 23 and 24 respectively, along which an endless conveyor 25 is guided for orbital circulation and extending upwardly and rearwardly along the sides of the gear housing 15 are bottom plates 26 having upright side plates 27 secured thereto to deine troughlike passageways 28 extending upwardly from the top surface of thereceiving plate 21 and rearwardly along the opposite sides of the main frame. Pivotally mounted at Z9 on the rearward portion of the conveyor frame is a horizontally swingable rear discharge conveyor frame or dis-v charge portion 30 having adjacent parallel guideway providing portions 31 (Figs. V1 and la) spaced equidistantlyy `from thelongitudinal.median line of the rear conveyor frame 30. Arranged coaxially with the vpivotorsyvivel 29 is a curved vertical guide plate or arcuate guide 32. having a partially circular surface 33 and overlying a partially lcircular horizontal bottom vplate portion 3.4 of the rearward portion of;the .forward conveyor frame. This curved guide plate y32 has oppositely curved, forwardly extending .portions 35 which substantially join vwith ythe guideways of the members 23 and the forward portions of the guideway providing members 31 have oppositely curved or outwardly bent portions 36 which substantially join with the opposite side surfaces of the curved guide plate 32. The guideway providing portions 31cm the swingable rear .conveyorframe 3 0 yare .jointedat theirrear ends by semi-circular guiding surface 37 (see Fig. la) formed on a .guide block 3S adjustably mounted on the rear .end of the swingable conveyor frame portion 3). The endless conveyor comprises a universal type drive chain 39 which is guided for orbital circulation along the guideways provided by the elements 23, 24, 32, 3l and 38, a

and secured .to this chain at Vspaced intervals are laterally projecting, forwardly curved flights fill formed with sharpened wear resisting teeth 4l, and .these flights ar adapted-to move within the troughlike passageways 28 of the forward conveyor frame and similar troughlike pas sageways 42 formed by a bottom plate 43 and integral upright side plates 44 of the rearward conveyor frame 3B. The conveyor flights, as the conveyor is driven, move transversely over the forward portion of the horizontal plate 21 and engage the dislodged and disintegrated coal which has fallen through the open center of the cutter frame 13 onto the horizontal receiving plate during the cutting and dislodging operation, and this front receiving portion of the conveyor moves the dislodged coal laterally and then upwardly and rearwardly along one of the troughlike passageways 2S at one side of the front conveyor frame, rearwardly past the swivel of the swingable rear conveyor frame 30 and then rearwardly along one of the troughlike passageways 42 at one side of the rear conveyor frame to discharge through a bottom opening 4S in the rearward end portion of the swingable rear conveyor frame, as the conveyor chain moves around the curved surface 37 of the rear guide block 38. The return run of the conveyor chain then travels forwardly along the troughlike passageway at the opposite side of the rear conveyor chain, forwardly past the swivel thereof, and then forwardly along the troughlike passageway at the opposite side of the front end of the main frame and over the horizontal plate 2l into a position to again engage the dislodged and disintegrated coal. An adjusting device 46 embodying a screw and nut (Fig. la) is arranged within the orbitof the conveyor as it travels along the guideways of the rear conveyor frame 30, and this device engages the guide block 38 to adjust the latter longitudinally relative to the rear conveyor frame, to vary the tension of the conveyor drive chain. Y

In order to prevent lateral spillage of loose coal or other mineral as the material-conveying run of the conveyor moves past the swivel 29 of the rear conveyor frame 3? there are provided upright iiexible metal retaining strips 48 (see Fig. 5) which are secured at 49 to the rear ends of the vertical side plates Z7 of the front conveyor frame. These iexible metal strips extend about the curved sides ofthe partially circular rear plate 34 of the front conveyor frame and entend rearwardly along the inner surfaces of the curved forward ends 50 of the side platesde ofthe swingable rear conveyor frame 30. Formed 'between parallel vertical plates 51 secured to the opposite sides of the rearward conveyor frame 30 are suitable longitudinal guideways 52 which slidingly receive guide blocks 53 and the rearward portions of the flexible metal strips eirtend rearwardly Vinto the spaces provided by the guider/ars 52 and are rigidly Secure@ et 54 t9 the guide blocks 53. Arranged at the opposite' sides o f. therear @Dreyer ,frame are' horizontal guide ,sheaves 5S imitated for rotation on brackets 56 secured to the rear conveyor trame, .and .a sable sentan 5,7 is .secured at .its ends at 58 to the guide blocks 53 and extends rearwardly through the spaces provided by the guideways 52 and transversely of the rear conveyor frame around the guide sheaves 55. This cable, as one `guide block moves forwardly, serves to rretract theother guide block, thereby to maintain the liiexible :retaining -strips 43 lunder proper tension. Thus, when the rear conveyor frame 3l) is swung horizontally, Vin this linstance manually, Vabout its pivot A29 with respect to the forward conveyor frame, Aone of the effective retaining portions of the liexible metal strip 48-whichrpasses varound Hthe side of the rear plate V342 is lengthened'while the other elective retaining portion is shortened thereby to compensate for the variation in the angular position of the conveyor frame 3l) with respect to the forward conveyor-frame.

The bottom plate 43 of the rear conveyor frame is arcuately formed at 59 ,to lit ,closely against the curved edge of therear plate 34, as `shown in Fig. 5. The conveyor 25 is driven by the motor 12, and the conveyor driving means comprises a beveled gear 6l keyed to the rear end of the motor shaft 62 (Fig. 4) and meshing with axbeveled gear 63 having its hub journaled on bearings supported by a vertical shaft 64. This shaft is suitably journaled in bearings supported within a gear housing 65 mounted .on the main frame rearwardly of the motor 12. A conventional sliding tooth or gear clutch 66 serves to connect the bevel gear 63 to the shaft 64 and this clutch is engaged by a yoke 67 operated by connections including a hand lever 68 (Fig. l) conveniently located exteriorly of the gear housing at one side of the main frame. Secured to ,the upper end of the shaft 64 is a spur gear 69 meshing with and driving a large spur gear 7.9 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 7l. This shaft is arranged in parallelism with the shaft 64 and is likewise suitably journaled within the gear housing 65. Formed on the shaft 71 beneath the gear 70 is a spur gear 72 meshing with a large spur gear 73 which is connected by conventional friction disc slip clutch 74 to a parallel vertical shaft 75, the latter likewise suitably journaled within the gear housing 65. This friction clutch is set to slip at a predetermined overload thereby to prevent damage to the conveyor and its drive gearing in the event the load on the conveyor becomes excessive. The shaft 75 is arranged coaXially with the swivel 29 of the rear conveyor frame 30 and has keyed thereto at its upper end a chain sprocket 76 which engages and drives the conveyor chain 39. Thus, the conveyor chain may be driven and is properly guided with respect to the swivel of the rear conveyor frame in all angular positions of the rear conveyor frame with respect to the iront conveyor frame. The curved rear ends of the guide members 23 and the curved front ends 36 of the guide members 3l, together with the curved plate 32, serve to guide the con veyor chain with respect to the drive sprocket 76 as the conveyor chain passes the swivel 29 of the rear conveyor frame, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l.

ln the moditied embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the swingable rearward portion 30 of the conveyor has parallel hydraulic cylinders S0 mounted at its opposite sides and, as shown in Fig. 6, these cylinders contain reciprocable pistons 8l having piston rods 32 projecting rearwardly from the cylinders. The piston rods at their rearward ends carry brackets "e3 on which guide sheaves 84 are journaled to turn about upright axes, and cable sections 85 are secured at one end at 86 to the outer sides of the cylinders. In this construction, the cable section 57 of the rst embodiment is omitted and the cable secions 85 are secured at 37 to sliding blocks 53' which are guided for longitudinal movement along the sides of the conveyor frame and are connected to the tiexible retaining-wall strips 48. Thus, when liquid under- Prssure is preperly Supplied to the Swing Cylinders t, the tra:I cani/@yor .frame may be. swung horizentally in one direction or the other about its pivot, and when liquid is trapped in the cylinders the rear conveyor frame is rigidly held in adjusted position. f

As a result of this invention an improved conveyor mechanism is provided whereby the mineral or coal which is dislodged and disintegrated by the mining apparatus is eiectively conveyed away from the working face for delivery at a convenient point at the rear end of the apparatus. By the provision of the improved ilexible retaining connections at the sides of the swivel of the swingable discharge end portion of the conveyor, and the associated swinging means, the structure is not only extremely efective but also is relatively ,simple and rugged in design. By attaching the power swinging devices to the flexible retaining walls, the swinging action of the conveyor is substantially improved while the retaining walls are adequately guided in all positions of conveyor adjustment. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one form and a modification which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form and modification of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may further be modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveying means including a swingable conveyor portion and a frame on which said conveyor portion is mounted to swing about an upright axis, there being gaps at the sides of the adjacent ends of said conveyor portion and said frame, an endless conveyor element guided for circulation relative to said swingable conveyor portion and said frame, exible retaining walls extending between said conveyor portion and said frame at opposite sides of said swivel axis for closing the gaps between the adjacent ends of said conveyor portion and said frame to prevent lateral spillage of the material being conveyed, means including a flexible element guided on said conveyor portion and connected to said ilexible retaining walls for maintaining the latter in their operative retaining position in all swiveled positions of said conveyor portion, and guiding means on said conveyor portion for guiding said flexible element.

2. A conveying means including a swingable rear conveyor frame and a front frame on which said rear frame is mounted to swing about an upright axis, an endless conveyor element guided for circulation relative to said frames, said frames at their adjacent ends having gaps at the sides thereof, flexible retaining walls secured to the sides of said front frame and extending between said frames for closing the side-gaps between said frames, said retaining walls extending rearwardly along the opposite sides of said swivel axis thereby to prevent lateral spillage of the material being conveyed between said frames, and means for maintaining said retaining walls in operative retaining position irrespective of the swiveled position of said rear frame including a.flexible element secured to the opposite ends of said retaining walls and guided at its intermediate portion on said rear frame, and guides on said rear frame for guiding said intermediate portion of said ilexible element.

3. A conveying means including a swingable rear conveyor frame and a front frame on which said rear frame is mounted to swing about an upright axis, an endless conveyor element guided for circulation relative to said frames, said frames at their adjacent ends having gaps at the sides thereof, flexible retaining walls secured at one end to the sides of said front frame for closing the gaps between said frames, said retaining walls extending rearwardly along the opposite sides of said swivel axis thereby to prevent lateral spillage of the material being conveyed between said frames, and power operated means for swinging said rear frame about its pivot including fluid cylinders arranged at opposite sides of said rear frame and containing reciprocable pistons having rearwardly projecting piston rods, guide sheaves carried at the rear ends of said piston rods, and exible elements each anchored at one end to said rear frame and at their other ends connected to the opposite ends of said exible retaining walls, said exible elements at their intermediate portions respectively passing around said guide sheaves.

4. A conveying means including aV swingable rear conveyor frame and a front frame on which said rear frame is mounted to swing about an upright axis, an endless conveyor element guided for circulation relative to said frames, said frames at their adjacent ends having gaps at the sides thereof, ilexible retaining walls secured to the sides of said front frame for closing the gaps between said frames, said retaining walls extending rearwardly along the opposite sides of said swivel axis thereby to prevent lateral spillage of the material being conveyed between said frames, means extending longitudinally along opposite sides of said rear frame for guiding the rearward portions of said flexible retaining walls, and power operated means for swinging said rear frame including power operated swinging elements operatively connected to said guide ends of said ilexible retaining walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 394,907 Bennett et al Dec. 18, 1888 1,095,077 Brown et al Apr. 28, 1914 1,757,453 Douglass et al. May 6, 1930 1,817,348 Claghorn Aug. 4, 1931 2,216,546 Cartlidge Oct. 1, 1940 2,366,407 Jeffrey Jan. 2, 1945 

